Topic > Gender Roles Essay - 788

Gender roles are starting to change at home and at work. In a study published by the Pew Research Center, “40% of all families with children under the age of 18 include mothers who are the sole or primary breadwinner for the family” (Wang). Married women are becoming the “breadwinners” of the family. Although gender roles are starting to change, society has not yet managed to break out of its gender stereotypes and double standards are more evident in mainstream media. The mass media plays a large and significant role in today's society. From the Internet, to newspapers, television and magazines, some messages are transmitted at a rapid pace. With ever-changing trends, men and women are always trying to portray what they see in advertisements. Some advertisements show beautiful women who have the ideal slim body with a man. Boys and girls can be led to think that certain behaviors or jobs are reserved only for the other gender. Girls are shown playing with dolls or playing house while boys are shown playing